A Smoothie Road to Health

There are many ways you can diet, or just plain eat healthier, without it being boring. Great examples of these are blended or 'smoothie' drinks. These beverages, if prepared properly, offer an enjoyable taste and health experience all in one.

A smoothie is a drink that can also be a meal replacement. It consists of a combination of liquids and solids blended down into a smooth mixture. Hence, its name, which is also apropos for the feeling of ease one gets while drinking one.

Health authorities recognize smoothies that are low in fat, and rich in beneficial fruit.

However, there are numbers of ways you can make smoothies. Recipes abound for making your own fresh vegetable smoothie, vitamin and herbal smoothie, as well as ones of different fruit combinations. We often receive reminders to get the necessary servings of vegetables and fruit into our daily diet.

A smoothie is one great way to do it. As a weight-loss tool, this type of beverage offers the bulk required to give you a satisfied 'full' feeling while eating low-cal at the same time. A typical diet smoothie will have low-fat milk and non-fat yogurt as part of its make up. It's a great way to 'drink yourself slim'.

To give yourself a lift you can add your favorite fruit to a smoothie as the natural sugars will provide the boost you need. A fresh fruit smoothie is helpful when you feel that mid-afternoon decrease in your energy level at your place of work. In fact, workplace productivity receives its own boost when workers are operating at peak performance levels due to increased energy and alertness. Numerous websites offer free recipes for nutritious fruit smoothies.

With increased energy levels and a general feeling of alertness and well-being there is less chance of depression taking over one's life. Studies show that supplements can help reduce fatigue and promote energy, which in turn can stave off bouts of depression. Therefore, adding these to your smoothie recipe can help your mental and emotional health as well.

For vegetarians and vegans, healthy smoothies offer an additional healthy diet alternative. A fresh smoothie with spinach added provides needed nutrients and provides a source of energy for the day. Spinach is a powerful natural product giving these elements and the fruit blend can mask the taste of the spinach if it's not your favorite vegetable.

Fresh smoothies with added herbs and vitamins such as B-12, ginkgo biloba, and echinacea are also popular. These and other herbs and vitamins give a smoothie an extra kick that can help boost a person's work performance. Herbs such as echinacea have many benefits. "Several laboratory and animal studies suggest that echinacea contains active substances that enhance the activity of the immune system, relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and have hormonal, antiviral, and antioxidant effects."

Gaining in popularity as a natural smoothie additive is wheatgrass. This is in powder form made from young wheat plants. It's benefits are the vitamins, enzymes, minerals, and chlorophyll it contains. A sprig of mint is also a nice flavoring item for a fresh fruit smoothie.

A smoothie is definitely a better beverage to take 'to go' during your workday, compared to a can of soda or a cup of coffee. As an after dinner, healthy dessert, a supplement can provide the needed boost to keep you vibrant and energized for an assortment of activities and even the nocturnal ones with your paramour!

That's reason enough to explore this healthy drink alternative.